Just 20 minutes south of Rotorua and 40 minutes north of Taupo, Waimangu is an absolute "must do" experience when you visit Rotorua. You'll enjoy self-guided nature walks through a protected scenic reserve, where unique ecology and rare botany mix with volcanic craters, bubbling geysers and steaming lakes.

View Waimangu's volcanic landscape and its fascinating geothermal features as you follow our crater walkways. Choose an easy-walking track through lush New Zealand forest or take an invigorating hike to enjoy superb panoramas.

Round off your visit with an optional cruise on beautiful Lake Rotomahana, seeing rare geothermal sights accessible only from our vessel, including the final resting-place of the famous Pink and White Terraces, drowned in the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption.

Walking & Hiking

Your walk or hike takes you on an ecological adventure through the craters of this beautiful valley. As you walk through the youngest eco-system in the world you'll see a range of native bird-life and plants, including unique thermal botany, thriving alongside spectacular geothermal activity.

Easy Walking

Easy nature walks, mainly downhill, can be as long or as short as you like. As you enjoy the serenity of our New Zealand native bush you'll pass by newly forming silica terraces, rare and unusual thermal plants and fantastic geothermal features such as Echo Crater, and Frying Pan Lake, the world's largest hot water spring. Climb the steps to dramatic Inferno Crater, the world's largest crypto geyser. Its beautiful blue lake, continually steaming, swirling and simmering, will take your breath away.

Mt Haszard Hiking Trail

The Mt Haszard Hiking Trail follows parts of the original walking route from the early 1900's when tourists came to view the Waimangu Geyser erupting. Beginning at Inferno Crater before moving high above the Waimangu Volcanic Valley floor, this nature hike requires a reasonable level of fitness which is rewarded with stunning panoramic views of the valley.

Lake Rotomahana Cruise

A boat cruise on Lake Rotomahana, one of New Zealand's most beautiful, unspoilt, natural wilderness areas, reveals its own, separate geothermal system. The amazing thermal activity you'll see on the lake shores can only be viewed from our vessel.

The 1886 Mt Tarawera Eruption changed Lake Rotomahana dramatically, exploding it to 20 times its size. The lake now covers approximately 15 coalescing craters formed during that massive eruption, and fifteen years following the eruption it had reached its current height. Today it is the deepest lake in New Zealand's North Island, the newest of all New Zealand's larger, naturally formed lakes and a protected wildlife refuge where large numbers of birds live all year round.